Dispensing device



Feb. 23, 1937. w. H. JOHNSON 2,071,407

DI SPENS ING DEVICE Filed Nov. 7, 1950 s Sheets-Sheei 2 m 14 I L Feb.23, 1937. I w. JOHNSON 2,071,407 I DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 7, 19303 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE DISPENSING DEVICE Application November 7, 1930, Serial No.494,046

8 Claims.

My invention relates to a device for dispensing material, andparticularly to a device of this character comprising a storage tank orother container in which an actuating piston is adapted to reciprocateto eject the material to be dispensed, under the influence of fluidpressure applied to the piston. The invention is very well adapted tothe dispensing of lubricating material such as grease and will bedescribed with reference to such use thereof, although the invention isnot limited to this application, but may be used as well for otherpurposes.

Several types of grease dispensers for filling the gear cases and greasecups of motor vehicles, for example, have been known previously. Anexample of these is that shown in the United States Patent No. 1,668,003to Buchet. All of these devices with which I am familiar, however, aresubject to numerous disadvantages of construction or operation. As willbe understood, the automatic dispensing and registering of quantities ofmaterial for sale comes within the field of regulation of the variousState Boards for the inspection of weights and measures. Such Boardsrequire a high degree of accuracy in devices of this type, and it is oneof the objects of the invention to provide a dispensing device which,because of its extreme accuracy, will satisfactorily meet any and alllegal requirements.

Another feature of novelty characterizing the invention is the use ofair pressure as a means for actuating the ejecting piston. This has notbeen possible heretofore because of the difficulty that has beenexperienced in obtaining a tight joint between the ejecting piston and aspirally twisted rod of non-circular cross-section traversing thepiston, which is employed to actuate registering mechanism. As a resultof the structure described in greater detail hereinafter, I haveprovided an air-tight piston which is suitable for operation by airpressure.

One of the sources of inaccuracy in dispensing devices known heretoforeis the twisted rod, generally square, traversing the ejecting piston tooperate the registering mechanism. These rods have heretofore been madefrom a square bar by heating it and twisting it into a spiral.Obviously, lack of uniformity in heating or twisting will produce atwisted rod in which the angle of twist varies in different portions ofthe length of the rod. The invention contemplates means for overcomingthis defect of previous constructions.

The invention also includes improvements in the construction and.operation of the registering mechanism which have for their objects toprevent unauthorized manual movement of the indicator showing the amountof material dispensed, to provide a resetting mechanism for theindicator, and to permit reverse movement of the indicator withoutobstruction when the tank is relieved of the actuating air pressure forpurposes of filling.

According to the invention, a dispensing device comprises a storage tankor cylinder adapted to be traversed by an ejecting piston operated byfluid pressure. For convenience in manipulation and transportation, Ipreferably mount the tank in a wheeled carriage. The piston is of noveldesign for the purpose of establishing air-tight connection thereof withthe cylinder wall. As an actuating means for the registering mechanism,I preferably employ a rod, originally circular in cross-section, havinga flattened or other shaped surface milled or machined spirally thereon.This rod traverses the ejecting piston, to which it is connected,through a novel form of packing gland, which will be describedhereinafter. The registering mechanism actuated by the spirally milledrod comprises a dial indicating the amount of material in the tank atall times, as well as a dial for indicating the amount of materialdispensed at any particular operation. The pointer of the former dial,of course, is automatically reset when the tank is refilled. The pointerof the latter dial, however, is reset after each dispensing operation,and I provide a resetting knob for the pointer, having a resilientdetent adapted to engage a retractable resetting stop for the purpose ofdetermining the initial position of the dial. In order to prevent thisindicator from being advanced when the dispenser is not deliveringmaterial, I provide a resetting ratchet which positively preventsforward movement of the indicator, unless the ejecting piston isoperating, without interfering with the resetting of the indicator. Theresilient detent permits the pointer to travel forward more than oneturn in case the operator fails to reset for dispensing the amount ofmaterial indicated by one revolution of the indicator. Since therefilling of the tank necessitates reverse movement of the pointer for anumber of revolutions, I provide a retractable resetting stop actuatedby the pressure on the material in the tank. When this pressure isreleased, the stop is Withdrawn and permits unlimited reverse travel ofthe pointer.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is made tothe accompanying drawings, illustrating a present preferred embodimentof the invention. The drawings, of course, do not constitute limitationsupon the scope of the invention, since the latter may be embodied inother forms within the spirit of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a dispenser embodyingthe invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse section therethrough along the line 11-11 ofFigure l;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the registering dials isolated from theremainder of the device;

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line' VI-VI of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a partial plan View of the registering mechanism with thecover plate thereof removed;

Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a sectional view along the line IXIX of Figure 8, and

Figure is a side elevation of a detail.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment ofthe invention comprises a storage tank or cylinder I0 adapted to befilled with the material to be dispensed, for example lubricatinggrease. The tank is preferably of one piece, seamless construction ofmaterial sufficiently substantial to sustain the pressure under whichthe material is supplied. A wheeled carriage II has a ring I2 formedintegral therewith which embraces the bottom of the tank ID for ease inhandling and transporting it.

Adjacent the bottom of the tank, a bearing bracket I3 is positionedpreferably by spot welding to the inside of the tank. Aregister-operating rod I4 has its lower end journalled in the bracket I3and its upper end is received in a bearing I5 formed in a cylinder headI6 overlying the top of the cylinder and bolted thereto. The rod I4 hasa spirally disposed flat portion I'I milled or machined on the originalcircular crosssection of the rod. Obviously, any other suitable shape ofmachined surface can be employed instead of a flat surface.

The rod I4 traverses an ejecting piston I8 reciprocable within thecylinder II]. The piston I8 includes a piston plate I9 seated on theupper end of a stud 29 and secured thereto by a nut 2|. A lower cupplate 22 is also seated on the stud and between the piston I9 and thecup plate 22 a packing ring 23 is located. A follower plate 24 is fixedto the lower end of the stud 28 to guide the piston in its movement inthe tank. The lower limit of the piston movement is determined by theengagement of the follower plate 24 with the bracket I3. The plate 24has a hole 25 therein to permit free passage of the rod I4 therethrough.Above the piston I9 an upper cup plate 26 is disposed having upstandingfingers 2i integral therewith. A packing ring 28 is disposed between thepiston I9 and the upper cup plate 26. For the packing rings 23 and 28, Iprefer to employ the material disclosed in United States Patent No.1,520,704. This material comprises fabric layers united by a bond ofrubber composition and is especially adapted for the use illustrated. Itnot only serves as an effective seal to prevent leakage of air from thechamber below the piston, but also prevents leakage of grease in thetank I0 past the piston.

The piston as a whole is urged toward its lowermost position by acompression spring 29 seating on the upper cup plate 26 and the cylinderhead I6. When the piston is raised by air pressure, as will be describedlater, the spring is compressed and its coils are concentrated aroundthe fingers 21, which provide a guiding 'cage therefor.

Since the registering rod I4 must pass through the piston I8, andair-tight joint therebetween must be provided. Toward this end, I formupper and lower bosses 30 and 3| integral with the piston I9. The lowerboss 3| has a transverse bore 32, and both bosses have a longitudinalbore through which the rod I4 is adapted to pass. In the bottom of thelower boss, a bushing 33 of babbitt or other suitable material is formedwhich is locked from rotation in the boss by extensions filling thetransverse bore 32. As shown in Figure 4, the opening through thebushing 33 conforms to the shape of the rod I4, so that on relativemovement thereof the rod will be turned. Referring again to Figure l, apacking ring 34 rests on the top of the bushing 33. On top of thepacking ring 34 a washer 35 is placed and a compression spring 36 forcesthe washer firmly against the packing. Inside the coils of the spring36, a thin walled brass bushing 31 is disposed to protect the rod I 4. Athreaded plug 38, bored out to receive the rod I4, is received in theupper boss 30, which is suitably threaded for that purpose. The plugserves to compress the spring 36 to any desired extent to govern thepressure exerted on the packing 34.

The packing 34, together with the provisions for its adjustment, and therings 23 and 28 close all possible paths of leakage for air underpressure from the lower side of the piston to the space thereabove.

Air under pressure is admitted to the space below the piston I9 througha valve 39 communicating with the interior of the tank through a port40. A hose 4| supplies air to the valve 39 and a gauge 4Ia may beconveniently located, as shown. Obviously, when the valve 39 is open,the piston I8 will tend to rise to compress the material in the spacethereabove and, if the outlet of the tank, to be described later, isopen, to eject the material contained therein.

Referring again to the cylinder head I6, a boss 42 is formed thereon.The upper end of the rod I4 is reduced and projects into the boss 42through a packing gland 43 to operate the registering dials, to bedescribed later. A handle bar 44 is formed integral with the cylinderhead and is provided with a caster 45 to facilitate movement of the tankwhen lying on its side. The cylinder head is also provided with a hole46 adapted to be closed by a plug 4'! threaded on a nipple 48 by meansof a clamping spider 49 and a wing nut 50. The nipple 48 is connected toa valve 5|. A flexible hose 52 serves to deliver the grease to anydesired point. Preferably, I provide a valvecontrolled nozzle for thehose 52.

The registering equipment is illustrated in Fig:- ures 5 to 10. Thisequipment is enclosed in a case 53 mounted on the boss 42 having a topplate 54, a bottom plate 55 and a side wall strip 56. The upper end ofthe rod I4 projects into the case 53 and carries a pinion 51 therein. Adial 58 on the top plate 54 cooperating with a pointer 59 carried at theend of the rod I4 in a head 60 indicates the amount of material in thetank III. The head 60 may be adjusted on the rod by means of set screws6|.

An intermediate gear 62 is journalled in the casing 53 on a spindle 63and meshes with a pinion 64 carried on a spindle 65. A control knob 66is mounted on the spindle and carries a pointer 61 cooperating with adial 68 for showing the amount of material delivered by the dispenser ina particular operation. The lower face of the knob 66 is provided withan annular recess 69 in which a split ring 69a is secured, as shown inFigure 9. One end 10 of the ring is sprung downwardly and is adapted toengage a stop pin II when the knob is turned back to zero after thecompletion of a dispensing operation, to determine the initial positionof the pointer 61. The knob 66 is not rigidly mounted on the spindle 65,but is connected therewith through a ratchet drive or friction clutchincluding a coil spring 12 disposed around the upper end of the spindle65. One end of the spring is bent radially as at 13 in Figure 9, andenters a slot I4 in the lower face of the knob 66. When the knob isturned so as to reset the pointer 61 at zero, the spring 12 is expandedand permits free movement of the knob 66 on the spindle 65. If it isattempted manually to advance the pointer 61 by turning the knob 66,however, the spring 12 will be contracted about the spindle 65 and lockthe knob 66 rigidly thereto. Any forward movement of the pointer 61 isthus prevented except that which is effected by turning of the rod l4resulting from discharge of material from the tank and upward movementof the piston IS.

The frictional engagement of the spindle 65 by the spring I2 issufiicient to advance the pointer 61 on rotation of the rod l 4 whendispensing, even though this tends to unwind the spring, as theadvancement of the pointer is unopposed.

The stop pin II has a piston 15 at the lower end thereof adapted toreciprocate in a barrel 16 secured to the bottom plate 55 of the dialmechanism. A spring 11 within the barrel I6 urges the piston against alimit stop 18. The stop pin H is raised to operative position only whenthe material in the tank I0 is under pressure as a result of the openingof the valve 39. This permits unlimited reverse rotation of the pointer61 and knob 66 when the piston I8 is being lowered from a position nearthe top of the tank III to the bottom thereof by the spring 29 for thepurpose of filling the tank, so as to restore the pointer 59 to zero.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the inventionprovides a dispensing device having numerous novel features andadvantages. I believe I am the first to provide a dispenser for suchmaterials as lubricating grease in which an ejecting piston is movedthrough a storage cylinder under air pressure, with a metering rodtraversing the piston. For the construction described, I obtain perfectsealing of the piston with the cylinder walls both above and below thepiston, as well as an air-tight joint between the meter rod and thepiston. The accuracy of the device is greatly improved by the use of amilled rod of originally circular cross-section, instead of the oldtwisted square rod. The registering equipment provides an indication ofthe amount of grease remaining in the tank, as well as an indication ofthe amount discharged at each operation. The latter indication cannot beincreased manually, but may be freely reset to the starting position.The resetting stop is retractable so as to avoid obstructing reverserotation of the pointer when the ejecting piston is lowered to permitfilling of the tank.

Although I have illustrated and described but a single present preferredembodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that other embodimentsthereof may be resorted to without sacriflcing the advantages mentionedor departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a dispenser register, an indicator, actuating means thereforincluding a slip connection for permitting manual resetting of thepointer and preventing manual advancement thereof, and a detentcooperating with a resetting stop to limit the extent of resettingmovement but permitting free forward movement of the pointer, saiddetent being yieldable so as to be displaced after each successivecomplete forward rotation of the pointer.

2. A register for a cylinder and piston dispenser having a registeringrod actuated by said piston, comprising an indicator adapted to bedriven by said rod showing the amount of material dispensed, theindicator being driven by said rod through a friction clutch and havinga retractable resetting stop rendered effective by the pressure of thematerial in the cylinder.

3. A register for a dispenser, including a dial, a shaft therefor, apointer free on the shaft, means actuated in accordance with dischargeof material from the dispenser for actuating the shaft, a coil spring onthe shaft connected with said pointer, and means for manually resettingthe pointer, said spring being effective to prevent manual advancing ofthe pointer.

4. A register for a dispenser, including an actuating member moved inaccordance with the flow of material from the dispenser, a gear traindriven thereby, a pointer operated by the gear train, a stop limitingresetting movement of the pointer, and a yielding detent movable withsaid pointer for engaging said stop on resetting move ment of thepointer, said detent being displaceable by said stop on forward movementof the pointer, permitting the pointer to be advanced more than onerevolution.

5. A register for a pressure dispenser, including actuating meanstherefor and means for resetting the register, a stop for the resettingmeans, and means responsive to the pressure in the dispenser foractuating said stop to effective position.

6. In a. register adapted to indicate the amount of material dispensedfrom a container, means for operating the register in accordance withthe material dispensed, and a resetting stop adapted to cooperate withsaid register, and means projecting into the container for operating thestop into effective position in response to the pressure on the materialin the container.

'7. In a register adapted to indicate the amount of material dispensedfrom a container, means for actuating the register in accordance withthe discharge of material from the container, a resetting stop adaptedto limit the resetting movement of the register, and a plungerprojecting into the container and subject to the pressure of materialtherein for operating said stop into effective position.

8. A register for a dispensing apparatus including a piston andcylinder, comprising a registering rod actuated by movement of saidpiston, an indicator adapted to be driven by the rod for showing theamount of material dispensed, indicator drive means actuated by the rod,including means whereby the indicator may be manually operated in onlyone direction, and a, retractable resetting stop for the indicatoractuated by the pressure in the cylinder.

WILLIAM H. JOHNSON.

